Saturday, July 3, 2010

In March I attended the Senate Candidate Forum in Jeff City. Roy Blunt (R-MO) wasn't there, but most of the other Republican candidates for US Senate from Missouri were. Robin Carnahan also declined, so Roy wasn't the only big name not to show. Those with name recognition never want to acknowledge their competitors for fear of lending them credibility. That's how the game is played.

I liked Hector Maldonado the best—he's the owner of the always salient domain HectorForFreedom.com. I also thought Kristi Nichols and Chuck Purgason rounded out the top three. My informal post forum straw poll had Nichols as the favorite. The problem I have with both Maldonado and Nichols is that they lack any legislative experience. While Purgason has more legislative experience than I would prefer, all of that experience is in the Missouri House and Senate. I assume that long serving politicians develop a sense of entitlement for elected office, but I know that Purgason is committed to the idea of citizen legislators and term limits, so I can overlook his fourteen years of legislative service. (Complete video interview.)

It would be nice if a national pollster would check on Blunt vs. Purgason. The last poll of that primary race was in March and Blunt led 48 to 18 percent. Again, though, Purgason seems to have caught a bit of a tailwind in recent weeks, at least in the St. Louis area.

With support of only 48% of the GOP base in March, Blunt is beatable, but Purgason has to secure the lion's share of that other 34% while also eroding Blunt's lead.

I believe that Purgason's strategy should be to focus on securing the endorsements of his other primary opponents. While an endorsement from a national figure like Sarah Palin would immediately put Purgason in the lead, I doubt that such endorsements are forthcoming. Nonetheless, David Cantanese of Politico reports that Purgason's people are talking with Palin:

Despite Palin's financial support for Blunt, Purgason's not giving up on netting an endorsement from the former vice presidential nominee.

"I've talked with some of her people recently," he said. "She's a very thorough person and [sic] she's looking at some of the things I voted on. I think she'll have a decision in the near future."

"She gave him money. She has not endorsed," Purgason emphasized. "We'd love to have Gov. Palin on board."

Roy Blunt is in the Republican leadership of the US House of Representatives. Until last year, he was the Republican whip. I would be surprised to see endorsements from nationally recognized GOP figures on the because of the potential risk to the endorser's political capital.

Therefore, Purgason has to convince Maldonado, Nichols, and the other GOP candidates to dropout and endorse him. Schmidt has blazed this trail and is setting an example by volunteering on Purgason's campaign. Maldonado and Nichols are great candidates who will have successful political careers in the future. Bob Praprotnik, Deborah Solomon, Davis Conway, Mike Vontz, and Tony Laszacs may distinguish themselves in future races, but I believe that the greatest contribution that each of them can make to the conservative cause today is to rally to the flag of Chuck Purgason.

As the field narrows, Purgason's conservative credentials will distinguish him from Roy Blunt's votes for TARP, Cash for Clunkers, the Medicare expansion, federal involvement in local education (No Child Left Behind), and ethanol mandates. When I've challenged Blunt supporters on these issues, they always respond that Blunt's got the money to challenge Carnahan in the Fall and Purgason doesn't. If you're voting in the GOP primary on August 3rd, you need to decide whether you want to vote for Purgason's principals or Blunt's war chest.

5 comments:

I choose Purgason, He is principaled and my favorite quote about him is Washington will not change Chuck Purgason by Chuck Purgason will change Washington. He is a man with integrity and that is absolutely what we need to represent Missouri.

I'm voting for Chuck as well. There has been one fairly reputable poll done with Purgason involved. I analyzed it on my blog. http://claycomopolitics.wordpress.com/2010/05/23/new-poll-shows-that-chuck-purgason-could-potentially-win-against-carnahan-and-blunt/

I'll vote for Chuck Purgason's straight-down-the-line conservative principles and his unquestioned integrity. Roy Blunt is just another RINO. I'm fed up with the RINOs as much as I am with the Democrats. Nothing will change for the better with Roy Blunt joining Claire McCaskill in the Senate.

I like Chuck Purgason. He's got business experience, which Roy does not. Roy has been a university president. Haven't we had enough of that kind of political thinking? We have a huge national debt problem that needs to be dealt with. Chuck Purgason is far smarter than Roy and far more courageous to make the tough votes than Roy. Who needs a war chest anyway? Neither Roy nor Robin can buy what Chuck has, a broad base of volunteers who believe in him and who will work endlessly to get him elected. It isn't about money; it' about loyalty, commitment, integrity, and sweat. Purgason has all of the above.

Amnesty votes are right around the corner. We know how Carnahan will vote. We haven't a clue how Blunt will go - probably with the side that gives him the most money and job security. Purgason will not support amnesty.

The November election could very well go Democrat in MO if Blunt wins the primary. He's part of the Bush machine and that blind Bush rage still persists. Carnahan can just run against Bush/Cheney and the people will support her. Who needs another 2 years of Harry Reid as Senate Majority leader? Not me.